Game 16 Thread / Pirates @ Cubs (1 of 3)

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SP Ian Snell SP *Rich Hill

2-0, 3.93, 15 K, 4 BB
0-2, 5.00 7 K, 7 BB




CF *Nate McClouth 2B *Eric Patterson
SS Luis Rivas SS Ryan Theriot
2B Freddy Sanchez 1B Derrek Lee
LF Jason Bay 3B Aramis Ramirez
RF Xavier Nady RF *Kosuke Fukudome
1B *Adam LaRoche LF Mark DeRosa
C Ronny Paulino C Geovany Soto
3B Jose Bautista CF Reed Johnson
P
 Ian Snell P *Rich Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ian Snell goes for the Pirates and the early returns suggest this might be the year that he figures it all out. Cubs fans hope that today is the day that Rich Hill figures out where the strike zone is. The sequel to Patterson leading off for the Cubs starts today as well, hope it's better than the original.

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Gameday Open Thread
Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 12:31pm
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Comments

Submitted by Q-Ball
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 12:47pm

E-Pat at the top is interesting, maybe Lou's early love for Fontenot is receding, or maybe that 0 for 5 yesterday had something to do with it.

Let's see how E-Pat plays 2nd

Submitted by vorare
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 1:05pm

Ugh. Vendors selling racist Fukudome shirts.

I don't get hung up on PC stuff, but this is just stupid and embarrassing. Who would buy that?!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 1:14pm

love the quote by the vendor along the lines of what the fuck do I care, I'm making money.

Submitted by 10man
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 1:55pm

I'm Asian and it doesn't bother me. The movie "White men can't jump", now that's racist :)

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:34pm

OMG... now THATs funny. Did you notice the eyes on the cubby bear? lmao

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 6:42pm

don't worry, one call to the Al-signal and it's been taken care of...

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/4/18/415608/yo...

BCB: Making life safer for Cubs fans everywhere

Submitted by Eric S
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 1:38pm

Didn't read the article ... was that quote by Sam Zell?

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 1:47pm

PESKY REDHEAD UPDATE: Hitless w/ two more walks last night; 13 singles & 10 bb's in 13 games - still extra baseless...

Submitted by vorare
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:15pm

Hey Mike,

Any estimate on how many of Murton's hits came on ground balls?

Submitted by mattralph
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 1:51pm

The Cubs offense is looking to give Rich Hill their second run of support today. It's really painful seeing that this team still can't figure out how to score without either hitting a homerun or getting gifted runs on walks and errors.

This game appears to be going down hill real fast.

Submitted by Chicago Jamie
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:02pm

I just cried for Felix Pie.

Man, I can't imagine how tuff this must be on him. EPat gets to lead off, but Felix can't get an AB or start to save his life. To quote Ron Santo, "GEEEEEEEZZZZZZZ!"

I'll be the first to admit Pie's looked lost out there, but there's still only one way to ever get out of a slump: more ABs (not fat girls, sorry!).

Can the Cubs really justify not sending him down so they can use his defense every now and again in the late innings?!? Couldn't Sam Fuld give us that while Felix works on his swing in AAA?

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:37pm

Just guessing here, but maybe it's because Pie can't hit big league pitching?

This isn't time to experiment and grow Pie, this is the big show. These games count.

Send him back down and tell him to fix that stupid swing of his and don't come back until it's fixed. I don't care if he's hitting .380 and on pace to hit 70 Iowa home runs. In Chicago, in the National League, he's going to have to hit for contact and use his speed.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:48pm

maybe it's time to end the epat experiment too. The statistical sample at lead off is about the same as Pie's now.

Submitted by mjkillshot
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 8:08pm

I was on on the "Pie Needs At Bats Bandwagon" last week .... okay I was a little more wildly agressive than Chicago Jamie.

To be fair:
Johnson has had a good couple of games with the bat - yes he is hitting .375. Johnson also had a great running catch this afternoon.

If Pie is/was not going to be the Cub centerfielder this year - TWO mistakes were made:
- not trading him in Spring Training for Roberts (assuming that deal was there) and
- giving him less than a week of games to prove or disprove himself.

I understand that Lou is in the business of winning and not development, but without player development how do we win?

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:17pm

EPat is doing an excellent job replacing Soriano's strikeouts.

Lets see... EPat's line:

.000/.000/.000 4 Ab, 3 K

Pretty sure Murton could do better than that.

Submitted by Chicago Jamie
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:50pm

I couldn't agree more, Ryno, but it was also my point. I know he can't hit MLB pitching right now, but is he gonna learn from sitting on the bench? No. So why the hell is he even on our MLB team?!? To be a late-inning defensive replacement?!? Stoopid, if you ask me.

Call Fuld up if that's what they're doing, instead of letting one of our more promising young players rot away and sulk on the bench...

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:52pm

I think all you need to know about why Pie is not playing was spelled out in yesterday's Suntimes.

''We're working with him on shortening up his swing,'' Piniella said after reversing course. ''And we're going to work with him for a few days until he feels nice and comfortable.''

and more importantly:

"Pie still hasn't developed that keen eye. The Cubs have told him to swing only at pitches in the middle of the strike zone and down. Sounds simple enough.

Then Pie sees a chin-high fastball and swings for the fences.

It has become unsettling to watch."

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/899334,CST-S...

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:56pm

Where were these guys (on the Cubs) when teams were willing to give mint players for Pie? Of course it's unsettling to watch him struggle. He gets three at bats every two weeks or so. Most players would suck given those kinds of practice rounds. These are spurious arguments at best.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:02pm

I don't think the point is that he sucked, I think the point is that he did not do what they asked him to do.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:54pm

Is Hill hurt? Why was he pulled after 5 innings and only 82 pitches?

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:57pm

hopefully lou is just being super cautious. But I'm not watching the game.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:57pm

he also pitched poorly most of the game, he was behind virtually every hitter...or at least is seemed like that. Actually was getting his curve over most of the time, but had all kinds of problems with his fastball.

Luckily it was the Pirates...

Submitted by Bigz
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 2:58pm

Pat guesses it is just about getting Hill a win.

Submitted by billybucks
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:02pm

Wow -- Lou going right/lefty in the 6th inning.

He must really want to get Hill a win.

Must say -- I like the move. Hill can leave the game with confidence, and begin his gradual recovery to 2007 form.

Submitted by vorare
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:03pm

Yeah, probably a confidence thing, letting him end his start on a good note. Hopefully it'll carry over to his next game.

Submitted by Chicago Jamie
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:04pm

I think they pulled him just to keep his confidence high. He pitched well and can get a win. A bad 6th inning and his confidence is shot again. I think it was a good move . . . and a good beginning to getting out of his rut.

Submitted by Dmac
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:09pm

Given the way the club handled Hill in the past, Lou and Co. deserve the benefit of the doubt on this one. At any rate, we desperately need Hill to be back to his old form, since Lilly's all over the place so far.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:11pm

Has EPat looked as bad at the plate as the results?

Submitted by nohit
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:17pm

Mmm... bottom feeding...

/Homer

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:54pm

Any one worried Marmol may be shot by August?

Submitted by Dmac
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:54pm

Marmol had some trouble, but he battled to stay in there at the end of the 8th (40 pitches). Then Woody comes in and quickly closes it out. Yea, team.

Submitted by billybucks
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:29pm

Wow -- Marmol 2IP, 5 K's.

I hope Lou rests him tomorrow.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:55pm

So far, the Wood as closer experiment has been acceptable.

Submitted by Dmac
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:56pm

I'll only be worried if he keeps having outings like this one - working two innings with lots of pitches.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:59pm

Over under on Marmol's IP this year....... 90

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:28pm

Under

Submitted by Bigz
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 3:59pm

wood had A stuff today.
6 pitches, save.

Submitted by Dmac
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:09pm

"Over under on Marmol's IP this year....... 90"

Under - I hope. Has Lou lost confidence in Howry, at least until his velocity comes back?

Submitted by billybucks
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:26pm

Problem is -- Howry and Weurtz are on shaky ground, which only leave Marmol and Wood in clsoe games for now.

Daryl Ward now 0-for-11 in 2008 --- remember when he was hitting .600 in Spring Training? He will hit -- hopefully, soon.

Submitted by mjkillshot
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 8:12pm

Lets give Ward another game out in rightfield........

Submitted by dc60124
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:30pm

10% of 2008 in the books-
cubs 10-6, nice.

too bad they can't play the astros, pirates, and reds all summer.

nice suprises so far:
wood
fuku
reed johnson
lee
dempster
mostly good health

not so nice so far:
soriano
lilly
ramirez
ward
wuertz

passable so far:
shortstop
2b- derosa now muscles up as the lf, ha!
marmol
zambrano

will the real rich hill please stand up?
will the real bob howry please stand up?
will the future compact-swinging felix pie please show up?

so far, so good.
get 2 more wins and be on a roll when the big bad mutts hit town!!

Submitted by Dmac
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:40pm

That list makes little sense to me - Marmol and Z are only "passable? What on earth do they have to do to improve on their season's performances at this point? And Ramirez never hits well in the Spring, at least as far back as I remember. He's basically in line with expectations.

Submitted by dc60124
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 5:43pm

in line with expectations.

thanks, that's a better name for 2b-ss-z-marmol.

ramirez so far is no great help. winning (10-6) without him is nice. ditto soriano. that was by and large my point.

and it's 10% of the season. probably still falls under the "small sample size" clause. once again, consider the relative strength of the competition they've faced. let's compare notes again after 32 games. or 41 games. losing 2 of 3 to milwaukee and 2 of 3 to philly, presumably potential playoff opponents, leaves me under-whelmed.

only one man's opinion.

Submitted by Jeff_Pico
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 6:49pm

This was a pretty good game, as many have said it was lucky we were playing the Pirates, Hill didn't look very good but the numbers in the end were ok. Using Marmol for 2 innings was interesting, goes to show that Lou either has no confidence in Howry, or he was unavailable for some reason. EriK Patterson didn't look so good, I wonder if the callup of Murton was half way planned due to facing the 2 left handers Sat and Sunday.

Submitted by mjkillshot
on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 8:15pm

Hopefully:
Murton will play LF against the Pirate's two lefties w/DeRosa back at second and Fontenot on the bench.

Johnson playing center and leading off.

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